Top 10 biggest transfers from the Premier League this window

Top 10 biggest transfers from the Premier League this window

The amount of money which revolves around football is steadily increasing, especially in the Premier League. Meaning that clubs have more to spend than ever. The date is 11 July and we’ve already seen tons of incoming and outgoing transfers. Down below are the ten biggest transfers in the Premier League this window.

  1. Davy Klaassen – From Ajax to Everton – €27.000.000

We start this list with an Dutchmen. To specify: a midfielder from Ajax named Davy Klaassen. The 24-year old has left the record champions after thirteen years with them. And he leaves them after winning several (personal) prizes. He was crowned champions three times and won the Dutch Super Cup once. His performance was vital for their results throughout the years. Klaassen was the club top scorer in 2013-14 as midfielder and won the Golden Boot (best Eredivisie player) after 2015-16. His last campaign was his most successful one. Scoring twenty and assisting twelve in fifty games. The creativity and mentality he showed was applauded across the globe. Since 2015, Klaassen was the Ajax captain. He was an crucial factor in Ajax’ their fantastic Europa League run, with them reaching the final. His manager Bosz left the club a few weeks ago for Dortmund and the rumour starting growing that he would follow his coach, but Everton managed to scoop him up. The Toffees ended up paying €27.000.000 for the goal scoring midfielder. And their presence in this list doesn’t stop there.

  1. Jordan Pickford – From Sunderland to Everton – €28.500.000

Another incoming transfer from Everton. The move from Klaassen to the Toffees was rather surprising, but this transfer was written in the stars. Jordan Pickford, a 23-year old goalkeeper, played 29 games for Sunderland last season, but couldn’t prevent them from relegating. The club would’ve ended up with way less points if Pickford wasn’t defending the goal. Averaging 4.7 saves per game made him the busiest goalkeeper in the Premier League last season. Everton weren’t successful when it came to find a sustainable replacement for living legend Tim Howard. Both Joel Robles as Maarten Stekelenburg weren’t performing as expected. Meaning Pickford will undoubtedly became the first goalie. Everton went on paying €28.500.000 for his services. Making him the most expensive British goalkeeper ever (surpassing Fraser Forster back in 2014: €11.300.00). And he is also our number nine on the list, but he is not the last goalkeeper!

  1. Michael Keane – From Burnley to Everton – €34.000.000

No, you didn’t misread. It’s indeed an “top-10 biggest transfers from the Premier League” and not only Everton. The Toffees have been quite busy already. They bought an young, talented goalkeeper and midfielder already. And they will add an centre back with 24-year old English international Michael Keane to that list. Tall as a building, Keane has been magnificent in the air last campaign. Only Steve Cook (226) had more headed clearances than Michael Keane (176). His composed behaviour and accurate passing made him an player to rely on. It’s rather surprising that the Englishmen started his professional career with Manchester United back in 2009 and was never given a fair chance. He eventually left them for Burnley back in 2014. He went on playing 90 domestic league games for them (66 in the Premier League) before Everton decided to spend €34.000.000 on him.

  1. Victor Lindelöf – From Benfica to Manchester United – €35.000.000

The first player which doesn’t involve Everton. It does involve a Swedish player from a Portuguese club. The 22-year old started his professional career with Vasteras SK before moving to Benfica in 2012. At first, the centre back was struggling to become a regular in the first team. His first three season with them was for the second squad. Only to get fifteen appearances in 2015-16 for the seniors. He went on playing 32 of the 34 league games in 2016-17 and made himself irreplaceable in the side who became champions of the Portuguese league. The fact that Lindelöf can both as centre back as right back speaks for him. Benfica desperately tried to give him a contract extension, but they were too late. Many bigger clubs than them were eying the Swedish wall. Manchester United were quick and decisive and Lindelöf picked them for the next step in his career. United paid €35.000.000 for Lindelöf and because of that, he is the number seven on our list. But still not the most expensive defender in our list.

  1. Antonio Rüdiger – From AS Roma to Chelsea – €39.000.000

A big, physical world class player in my eyes. The 24-year old German started off his professional career at VFB Stuttgart and made his debut at age 18  against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga. He went on impressing everyone with his gigantic steps and strength. Many clubs were eying him and AS Roma eventually came out on top. The Italians first loaned him for a season. He played 30 of the available 38 league games in a season where Roma ended up third with 80 points, just two points removed from runner-up Napoli. The Italians were convinced and bought the German international for just nine million euros. He developed rapidly since his arrival at AS Roma and especially in his last season. AS Roma played in a 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation repeatedly in 2016-17. An tactic which is often used by Chelsea manager Conte, who needed a new centre back after the departure of John Terry to Aston Villa. So a match made in heaven. They belonged with each other. The Blues went on paying €39.000.000 for Rüdiger, meaning Roma made a profit of thirty million in just twelve months. That’s how you do business.

  1. Ederson Moraes – From Benfica to Manchester City – €40.000.000

The most expensive goalkeeper on our list: Ederson Santana de Moraes or simply called Ederson. The Brazilian born goalie started his professional career with Sao Paolo, but didn’t play any minute for them and left for SL Benfica. The Portuguese thought they had liquid gold in their hands, but the opposite was true. He didn’t convince them and he signed with Ribeirão, a team on the third level of Portugal. Fast forwarding a year, and Rio Ave picked him up as back-up goalkeeper. Rio Ave were acting on the highest level and his first season with them wasn’t very successful (just two games), but the two campaigns which followed saw him playing respectively 18 and 17 games. And this time, it was convincing for SL Benfica, who bought him back for €500.000 and granted Rio 50% of any future transfer fee (20% of that went to Ederson’s agent, Jorge Mendes).

He did only play ten games in 2015-16, but became the first choice in the previous season: playing 27 games in which he conceded just eighteen goals. He is yet to make his debut for  Brazil, but is tipped to be the number 1 goalkeeper for years to come. Manchester City saw his potential and bought the 23-year old for €40.000.000, making him the second most expensive goalkeeper ever (after Buffon’ move from Parma to Juventus in 2001). Ederson is also our number five and he won’t be the only Manchester City-player on our list.

  1. Mohamed Salah – From AS Roma to Liverpool – €42.000.000

An rather interesting story revolves around the career of the Egyptian-born. He started with El Mokawloon until he moved to Swiss record champions FC Basel. He kept impressing spectators with his pace and made his dream move to Chelsea for €12.500.000 in January 2014. That’s when things get peculiar. He showcased that he belonged on that level, but Chelsea still decided to loan him out for 18 months to Fiorentina. An loan spell which abruptly ended after six months, because Salah refused to play for “La Viola” in 2015-16. He was then picked up by AS Roma, the Italians paid five million euro for his twelve months of service.

At the same time, Fiorentina filled an official complaint to the FIFA regarding Chelsea’ behaviour in this situation. The Italians stated that Chelsea breached the standing loan agreement when they allowed Salah to join Roma on loan.

The 25-year old was unmoved by all the commotion and became the club’ top scorer with fifteen goals in all competitions (14 in the domestic league). It’s safe to say that the winger impressed his employer, who bought the Egyptian for a mere €15.000.000. Something which was a fantastic move. Because roughly eight months later, he was sold to Liverpool for a whopping  €42.000.000, making him one of the most expensive African players ever, and our number four.

  1. Bernardo Silva – From AS Monaco to Manchester City – €50.000.000

Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva, a beautiful name which suits such an magnificent footballer.  The 22-year old  was partly responsible for the unbelievable season which AS Monaco had. Being Portuguese and extremely talented, he couldn’t go wrong. FC Porto, Sporting and Benfica are all fantastic teams to improve yourself, and then it’s just waiting for the big move. Something which he couldn’t manage to do, which he still regrets. Stating that he is sorry that he couldn’t play on a consistent level like he always dreamed of. He still loves Benfica and expects to “come home” and eventually ending his career with them. Still, AS Monaco saw the raw potential in him and loaned him for one season in 2014-15. After six months, the French had seen enough and decided to immediately buy him for €15.750.000.

The rest is history. His first two campaigns with Monaco were great, but nothing in comparison to his last season. PSG had been dominating the Ligue 1 for years, but wasn’t up for the challenge when Monaco put the pressure on them. The latter went on becoming champions with 95 points (30 wins, 5 draws & 3 losses), but that doesn’t even compare to their goal scoring abilities: 107 goals in 38 games! The third-highest total in the history of the top division behind Reims (109) and RC Paris (118) from 1959-1960. And they also impressed in the Champions League, especially the games against Manchester City were a sight for sore eyes. Bernardo Silva (and Kylian Mbappé) were unbelievable. What I do believe is that City coach Guardiola was so impressed with the Portuguese playmaker that he requested the board to buy him. Which they did, for €50.000.000. Making him our third player on the list.

 

  1. Alexandre Lacazette – From Olympique Lyon to Arsenal – €53.000.000

The runner-up on our list is the French striker Alexandre Lacazette. The perfect example of a player who patiently build his career up: waiting for the right opportunity. The 26-year old began playing football in 2003 with ELCS Lyon, the little brother of Olympique. After five years at ELCS he was bought by the big brother. From 2003 till 2010, Lacazette was steadily improving his game in the youth teams of Lyon. At the same time, he was going through all the youth teams of the national squad, starting at U16 and eventually ending up being a regular for the senior squad. His calculated approach works on and off the pitch. Which seems perfectly in line with his next coach Arsene Wenger.

Lacazette was struggling in his first seasons at Lyon, but knew his time would come. And it did. He scored just nine goals in his first sixty appearances, but then 2013-14 was around the corner. A season where “AL” finally proofed that hard work pays of: scoring fifteen in 27 games. Great numbers for a 21-year striker. But he was just getting started. He went on scoring 27, 21 and 28 goals respectively.

It seems like a match made in heaven. A hard working player who easily score goals in a team involving players such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesüt Özil. The creativity and fluidity in going forward will be mouth-watering. And now Arsenal finally has their top striker which they lacked throughout the years. 53 million euros is a lot of money, but in this day and age: I honestly think it’s a great deal. Especially when looking at our number one.

  1. Romelu Lukaku – From Everton to Manchester United – €85.000.000

Topping our list, with great distance: Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker is an unbelievable presence in an already physical challenge competition. Something which comes around rarely. In another article on our website, we discuss his strengths and limitations. You see it often, players who are growing faster than others and take advantage of this at an early age. Lukaku was literally head and shoulders above the rest. It’s always a matter of time before every player is on their physical best and then those players such as Lukaku are struggling because they’ve solely relied on their physique.  Something which didn’t happen to the Belgian international. He is absolutely world class in the personal duels. And his scoring abilities have gone through the roof too. Lukaku scored 85 times in 186 appearances, which are incredible numbers at age 24. Combined with the Belgian national team and Anderlecht, “Rom” is closing in on 400 career matches. United are in need of a striker after Zlatan’ departure and bought Lukaku for a whopping 85 million.

Because of his club record move of €85.000.000, Everton has bought several players in return already (as seen in our top-10). But does it really matter for English clubs? With their new TV-deal, clubs have more money than ever and this top-10 shows that. It also sees an average of €41.500.000 per player and I expect the top clubs to continue to fill this list with expensive players. The amount of money going through the Premier League is staggering, but that’s one of the biggest reasons I love watching the league.